I have made a bass course for you with all my lessons put in order in which you should practice them. By the end of this course you will have skills of an experienced bass player and be able to perform in various genres, construct your own bass lines, play in slap and pop style, tapping style and have many other techniques under your belt! As new lessons come out, this list will be updated with them in appropriate spots!

Wow - what timing! I was just considering sending you a letter about how to start with the bass. I have been adding a few guitars to my collection and was thinking about adding a bass the next time I get the urge. To be honest, I have no idea how to go about it but this schedule is wonderful (I don't think I have ever even held a bass).

I have a few questions that may be relevant to other beginners as well.

1. I am not sure what model or make to start off with - I don't want to start off with a cheaper model (I have noticed that cheap guitars make lousy learning instruments) but something middle of the road.

2. I don't have an amp for the base but since I got my Pod Xt about 6 months ago, I have used my guitar amp for less than an hour since. I believe you can play the bass through the Pod XT but not sure.

I have finally put together this course! Its been years work! Of course new lessons will fill in all the missing spots etc as they come out. You should have kept that bass

QUOTE (TheOldOnes @ Aug 6 2009, 04:57 PM)

Wow - what timing! I was just considering sending you a letter about how to start with the bass. I have been adding a few guitars to my collection and was thinking about adding a bass the next time I get the urge. To be honest, I have no idea how to go about it but this schedule is wonderful (I don't think I have ever even held a bass).

I have a few questions that may be relevant to other beginners as well.

1. I am not sure what model or make to start off with - I don't want to start off with a cheaper model (I have noticed that cheap guitars make lousy learning instruments) but something middle of the road.

2. I don't have an amp for the base but since I got my Pod Xt about 6 months ago, I have used my guitar amp for less than an hour since. I believe you can play the bass through the Pod XT but not sure.

Hello!

Heheheh gotta love the perfect timing!

QUOTE (Mrblomme @ Aug 6 2009, 05:16 PM)

Wow this is wonderfull! Thanks Bogdy!

You're welcome! You will be able to follow this course, lessons are arranged by relevancy and difficulty. As you can see there are different categories so you can choose several lessons to work on at the same time (from different categories). Once you get the bass we'll talk and make a custom plan for you.

Now for the questions (they are very good ones!!) :

1. I recommend starting with a Jazz style of bass, that means one with two single coil pickups. It will be easy to learn on and also versatile so you can cover pretty much everything. When getting a bass you want to pay extra attention to action (height of strings), if its comfortable for you and if it can be lowered. It can be really annoying to play a bass with "too high" action, and many have that problem (in cheaper and middle class). So make sure to check that out. Regarding sound, just listen to how you like it and possibly compare it to a really expensive bass!

Since you didn't want a cheap bass recommendation, here are some middle-high class ones that will do awesome job for sure:

American Fender Jazz Basses , deluxe one will have active electronics, standard has passive. Active uses battery and give more versatility and modern sound to the tone. Though standard passive basses sound very good too so its best to try them in store and see which type of tone you like better.

2. Yeah you should be able to play through that POD. I'm not sure if it has bass amps models etc but you should be able to tweak a nice sound with it. After all if you don't, you can get a bass preamp pedal and put it in the middle (bass>preamp>pod) and it will sound great.

Wow wow wow!Before I wanted to learn the e-guitar, I thought about playing the bass, but finally decided to play the e-guitar...not that I'm dissatisfied with this decision, but with this guide, playing bass seems more attractive than ever! Now I focus on learning e-guitar, but maybe in a year or so, when I've reached a certain guitar-level I'll also play the bass, and then this Syllabus will be the greatest help I can think of!I really appreciate your work, that's great! Keep it up

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For all who are interested, I own a Yahama Pacifica 112 and a Spider Line 6 15W Amp

@Fusar: If you ever start playing bass, I'm here to help you so make sure you ask questions you have and everything!

Cross out the if I find that the bass is an attractive instrument, but now I want to focus on playing the guitar, and when I've reached a certain level, where I find that my playing is ok (maybe christmas, maybe next summer, no idea ), I'll do both instruments simultaneously! A lot of bands in my area search for good bass players, so that would be another point why playing the bass can be interesting in (my) future. When the time has come, I'll inform you and you'll probably give me a lot of great advices

@Ivan: Nice to hear that, I like your first lesson plan, but I like Bogdan's layout even more! So combining these two things will be great!

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For all who are interested, I own a Yahama Pacifica 112 and a Spider Line 6 15W Amp

Cross out the if I find that the bass is an attractive instrument, but now I want to focus on playing the guitar, and when I've reached a certain level, where I find that my playing is ok (maybe christmas, maybe next summer, no idea ), I'll do both instruments simultaneously! A lot of bands in my area search for good bass players, so that would be another point why playing the bass can be interesting in (my) future. When the time has come, I'll inform you and you'll probably give me a lot of great advices

@Ivan: Nice to hear that, I like your first lesson plan, but I like Bogdan's layout even more! So combining these two things will be great!

heheh cool I'm Crossing out the IF I was also playing guitar before bass appealed to me and I had to start playing it was so attractive to I started isolating bass lines in my head when I listened to songs When playing bass you are going to get a gigs with a band very easily since everyone is in constant need of a bass player and good ones are taken immediately. When you decide, I'll be here to help you with everything!